Waymo vehicle blocks busy street to let passengers out

In a recent incident involving a Waymo self-driving vehicle in the United States, a witness reported that the car stopped abruptly in the middle of a busy street to allow two passengers to exit and retrieve their belongings. This behavior not only obstructed traffic but also raised safety concerns as the vehicle's actions forced passengers into the street. The witness noted that this was not an isolated incident, having previously observed a Waymo waiting at a green light for passengers who were not in sight, leading to further obstruction of the intersection. Both occurrences were reported to Waymo's customer support, which acknowledged receipt of the feedback with a generic response. The lack of direct action or improvement concerning the vehicle’s behavior prompted the witness to express growing frustration and criticism of the autonomous technology, likening the Waymo's driving habits to those of the worst Uber drivers, particularly in terms of disregarding the right of way. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in the integration of self-driving vehicles in urban environments, drawing attention to their potential impact on traffic flow and public safety. As autonomous technology advances, the incidents like these might lead to stricter regulations and reviews of operational conduct for such self-driving services, eliciting calls for accountability in traffic management.